Day: December 11, 2013

Today was a hectic day and while fluttering between work, the women’s exhibition at DWTC and Christmas cakes at Bloomsbury’s, I was not able to be part of the DIFF events. Especially one with Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC) and its partnership with Oliver Wyman, who today released a white paper examining key areas for growth and investment in the Middle East and North Africa media production market.

The white paper addresses recommendations on how countries in the region can build world-class media ecosystems. DFTC commissioned the white paper to help inform its strategic approach to developing a robust media industry.

The white paper, entitled Opportunities and Challenges in the Middle East and North Africa Media Production Market, revealed that Arabic content production is still below its fullest potential, and presents the biggest opportunity for growth in the Middle East media production market. It found that although Arabic is the sixth world language in terms of GDP, there is still a significant lack of Arabic media content. Between 2005 and 2010, the Middle East contributed only 0.72% of the films produced in the world. Furthermore, Arabic film and TV production represent only 0.03% of GDP in the Middle East and North Africa – well below comparable markets elsewhere.

Several countries within the MENA region are taking the initiative to boost and strengthen their media industries, particularly in the Gulf. The white paper revealed Dubai’s strong potential to become a global media production hub meeting the highest industry standards, thanks to its focus on building the required production infrastructure and services that are fundamental to a vibrant media ecosystem.

The case study on Dubai highlights the emirate’s achievements to date in the areas of production infrastructure, such as the state-of-the-art sound stages at Dubai Studio City and the creation of the Dubai Film and TV Commission, which provides the necessary framework to ease the production process for filmmakers. The paper also underlined the competitive advantages of Dubai’s diverse locations, city infrastructure and safety.

Among these findings, three key actions stood out which could dramatically change Dubai’s global position and help take it to the next level: improving access to talent by offering longer-term residency to production crew; developing more formalised film incentives; and improving TV audience measurement across the region. According to the paper, if Dubai develops and implements such changes, its position as an internationally renowned media production hub would strengthen and progress dramatically.

ISTANA, a multi-brand jewellery retailer in the UAE, announces the arrival of Mimí, an Italian couture jewellery brand known for its audacious and bedazzling gem collections. Launched in 2000 in the fashion metropolis of Milan, Mimí’s collections amorously embody a woman’s venerable love for gems, alongside the expression of their self through jewellery.

The 15th Women’s Exhibition, organised by my dear friend and mentor, Thoraya Al Awadhi, Founder and CEO of Thoraya Al Awadhi Group of Companies will open at 10am today under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development of the United Arab Emirates.

The exhibition is from the 11th to the 14th of December at Hall 6 of the Dubai World Trade Center.

The highly successful Women’s Exhibition serves as a platform to bring together seasoned businesswomen and women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services as well as create a networking opportunity for small and medium business from the region and abroad.

“We are delighted to host our exhibition, which has grown exponentially year by year at the Dubai World Trade Centre. We are commitment to our exhibitors by bringing to them a bigger venue in a strategic location with more support that helps them grow their business. We hope more entrepreneurs use this platform to create awareness of their products and services,” said Founder Thoraya.

This year’s exhibition has expanded to include fashion, jewellery, spas and wellness to travel agencies, financial services, medical supplies and health products in addition to many other sectors.